Saadani National Park is a rare gem on Tanzania’s coastline—a place where untamed wilderness meets the waves of the Indian Ocean. As one of the country’s newer and more compact national parks, Saadani offers a uniquely magical experience: elephants strolling along sun-kissed beaches, green turtles nesting in the sands, and the rhythmic call of the ocean mingling with the sounds of the savannah.
Landscape
Nestled along the shores of the Indian Ocean, Saadani boasts a rich mosaic of landscapes—swaying palm-fringed beaches, acacia-dotted plains, coastal forests, and the life-giving waters of the Wami River. The river meanders through lush mangrove ecosystems, providing sanctuary to hippos, crocodiles, and an extraordinary variety of birdlife. It’s the only place in East Africa where beach and bush safari truly merge.
Wildlife
Saadani is teeming with life, its wildlife population steadily growing. The park is home to four of the Big Five—elephant, lion, buffalo, and leopard—as well as giraffes, wildebeest, hartebeest, waterbuck, porcupines, warthogs, monkeys, and countless bird species. Along the rivers and beaches, look out for hippos, crocodiles, and the endangered green sea turtles nesting onshore